Samsung Galaxy S25
SD8 Elite for Galaxy · 6.2″ · 4000 mAh
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Samsung Galaxy S25 lands at 91 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 5 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Samsung Galaxy S25 if…
- ✓Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- ✓Compact 6.2″ form factor with flagship specs
- ✓7 years of Android OS upgrades
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip
- ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
- ✓Up to 2 TB storage
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
iPhone 17 Pro MaxStills and video quality across lenses
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera (95 vs 89).
Battery life
iPhone 17 Pro MaxScreen-on time and charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 84).
Performance
TieChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Display
iPhone 17 Pro MaxPanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on display (95 vs 92).
Value for money
Samsung Galaxy S25Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
Samsung Galaxy S25 more score per dollar ($799 vs $1,199).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy S25 | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2″ Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 2340×1080, 120 Hz, 2600 nits peak | ▲ 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (3 nm) | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | 128 / 256 / 512 GB UFS 4.0 | ▲ 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB |
| Rear camera | 50 MP wide + 10 MP 3× tele + 12 MP UW | — |
| Front camera | 12 MP | — |
| Battery | 4000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 25 W wired, 15 W Qi2 wireless | ▲ 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W |
| Weight | ▲ 162 g | 233 g |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| OS | Android 15 (One UI 7) | iOS 26 |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 39 hours |
Samsung Galaxy S25
- +Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
- +Compact 6.2″ form factor with flagship specs
- +7 years of Android OS upgrades
- −Charging stuck at 25 W wired
- −No telephoto upgrade vs S24
- −Base storage still 128 GB
iPhone 17 Pro Max
- +A19 Pro chip
- +Up to 39 hours video playback
- +Up to 2 TB storage
- −Premium price
- −Weighs 233 g
- −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter
FAQ: Samsung Galaxy S25 vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 5. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Samsung Galaxy S25 worth the price? +
At $799, Samsung Galaxy S25 delivers a Specdex score of 91 — strongest in cpu.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17 Pro Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for photography, Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on camera (95 vs 89). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 84). Screen-on time and charging.